‘We are 30 Million’ @ MTV TR3S.

The consortium “We are 30 Million” formed by MTV Latin America, Tu Rock es Votar and Fundación Todos Participando (loscandidatos.com) announced the airing of MTV Latin America’s production, “We Are 30 Million: Conversations With The Candidates”, an extraordinary series of interviews directed to young people with the five candidates for Mexico’s next presidential election. The most important personalities in Mexican politics will speak with MTV Latin America’s news anchor Ilana Sod who will present them with questions from Mexican youth and talent. This marks the first time that all the country’s presidential candidates speak to their youngest voters about issues relevant to them on the same show, recognizing the importance of their vote, which according to IFE (Federal Electoral Institute) represents 30 million votes, 45% of the electorate. MTV Español (MTV Tr3s), targeting Latino youth in the U.S. will simultaneously air the MTV Latin America special in five half-hour episodes commercial-free. The special will feature each of the five presidential candidates in alphabetical order starting with Felipe Calderón (May 29th), Roberto Campa (May 30th), Andrés Manuel López Obrador (May 31st), Roberto Madrazo (June 1st) and Patricia Mercado (June 2nd), each night at 9:30pm/ET.

The “We are 30 Million” consortium, created to encourage youth in Mexico to get informed and vote in the country’s next presidential elections on July 2nd, gathered young voters from throughout Mexico and artists such as Natalia Lafourcade, José María Yazpik, Belanova, Motel, Lu, Liquits, Ha-Ash, Patricia Llaca, Panda and Juan Manuel Bernal, among others, to ask the candidates questions on the issues they care most about, from employment, security, health and education. In MTV Latin America’s special, the candidates are submitted to serious, irreverent and original questions, from “How do you plan to make it easier for young people to get their first job?”, “What would you do to foster education, culture and the arts?”, “Have you ever stolen anything?”, “Have you ever smoked pot?” “What do you think of gay marriage?” and “When was the last time you lied?” The presidential candidates will do their best to prove themselves worthy of the youth vote, and Ilana Sod will moderate to ensure that no question goes unanswered.

“When we created ‘We are 30 Million’, we had two objectives: to encourage young people to get informed about the political process and to promote the importance of Mexico’s youth vote in the next presidential election; so we’re thrilled to have accomplished this through this ground-breaking initiative,” commented Carlos Magaña, Country Manager, MTV Networks Mexico. “We Are 30 Million: Conversations With The Candidates, offers a unique opportunity for kids in Mexico to get to know a new, more relaxed and informal side of the five presidential candidates and to hear their plans on the issues that affect youth the most,” added Magaña.

“For us it’s been a great experience to get an up-close look at each presidential candidate’s proposals, and we’re confident that youth will feel the same way watching the show,” said Andres Rivera, founder, Tu Rock es Votar AC.

“We Are 30 Million: Conversations With The Candidates is an opportunity for youth to engage the candidates on issues important to them and to hear from the candidates about their plans,” said Enrique Davis, President, Fundación Todos Participando (loscandidatos.com). “The fact that all the presidential candidates participated shows their increased interest in young people, so let’s hope that whoever wins really looks after their concerns.”

MTV Latin America launched its “We are 30 Million” initiative as part of its MTV Grita campaign, which encompasses the network’s social responsibility efforts designed to galvanize youth to express themselves and get informed on the issues that concern them and to make positive changes in their lives and communities. Form more information, visit MTVla.com/grita.